Young Arab Leaders and Junior Achievements Sign MOU to Boost Leadership Development and Entrepreneurship

The Young Arab Leaders (YAL) UAE chapter, the foremost development platform for business, public sector and civil society leaders in the Middle East, announced today the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Junior Achievements Argentina (JAA), a non-profit educational organization aiming to educate and infuse young people with true entrepreneurial spirit.

Under the agreement, 10 Arab youth will travel to Argentina to benefit from the Junior Achievement Company programme. The students will be guided by a role model from the local business community to help them conceptualise and operate an actual business enterprise.Al Ahli Group, a leading UAE-based multi-disciplined organization, and Nakheel, a Dubai World company and one of the largest and most innovative private real estate developers in the region, are sponsoring the initiative that is set to boost leadership development and entrepreneurship among the Arab youth.

Mohammad Khammas, Vice-Chairman of YAL-UAE Chapter and CEO of Al Ahli Group said: “The Arab region boasts a unique and massive resource that is still untapped – its youth. While the region has some of the most ancient civilizations in the world, Arabs themselves include the largest number of young people of any region, with the age structure of the population being significantly younger than the global average. Along with the fastest growing labour force, Arab countries possess an enviable ‘demographic gift’. It is absolutely imperative that we leverage this potential for the future of our economic development.

”YAL’s collaboration with Junior Achievement Argentina is a step towards achieving our goal to create a pool of Arab entrepreneurs that will be comparable to the best in the world. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Nakheel for supporting this initiative”

The 10 Arab students selected for the experiential three-phased JAA programme will participate in academic, cultural, social and recreational activities that offer high value on both personal and professional levels.

In the first week, students will mingle with nearly 600 youth from all over the world and gain exposure through lectures, competitions, workshops, group activities and sports. They will also attend the International Forum of Entrepreneurs (FIE) 2008 that will be held at Cordoba Hills in Argentina, where participants will acquire rich lessons on values, attitudes and tools to improve their personal skills as well as shape themselves as key enablers for the sustainable transformation of their communities.

In week two, the Arab students will join 10 Argentinean students and will be trained by specialists in five content areas of strategic planning, marketing, international logistics, production and costs. They will also visit a select number of high performing local companies in Argentina such as dairy farming, agricultural machinery, horticultural gardens, grains and oilseeds, cold storages and motor vehicles parts and body assemblies.

In the final week, participants will begin to apply their acquired learning tools to the design of their own business project. Assisted by specially assigned mentors, the students will provide a brief account of their respective projects to the rest of the students and members of JAA and YAL.

Manal Shaheen, Director of Marketing and Sales at Nakheel said: “Opportunities for practical and sector-specific entrepreneurship training are virtually non-existent or too costly for Arab youth. There are also few initiatives, which match successful business mentors with entrepreneurs in urgent need of specialized guidance and linkages to business networks to succeed as startups or to mature into SMEs.

“Nakheel recognizes the need for such initiatives in the Arab world and is keen on providing the Arab youth with such talent enabling opportunities”, she added.Capping the value intensive programme, an award ceremony recognizing the best business model will be held in Dubai in October 2008, amidst selected business owners and proponents of youth development.

About YAL:

Launched in 2004, The Young Arab Leaders is a powerful network of the Arab region leaders in business academia, media, arts, culture and civil society, who are committed to improving the state of the Arab world. Since its inauguration YAL has launched a number of initiatives in a myriad of sectors and disciplines mainly in education, leadership, entrepreneurship, and dialogue exchange and youth network. The support to be orchestrated by YAL will be delivered in close coordination with a select group of regional and international partner organizations. Initial partners were chosen based on their actual or potential contribution to YAL’s overarching goals. For more information: http://www.yaleaders.org/

About Nakheel:

Nakheel is one of the world's largest privately held real estate developers, and a key player in realising the vision of Dubai for the 21st century: creating a world class destination for living, business and tourism. Nakheel is developing an iconic portfolio of innovative landmark projects in Dubai, and now in key markets around the globe, across a range of sectors - residential, commercial, hotels, retail, and leisure. Nakheel's projects are conservatively estimated to be worth US$80 billion. Upon completion Nakheel's waterfront projects will have added more than 1000km of shoreline to Dubai's coastline. Nakheel's Dubai portfolio currently includes The Palm Jumeirah, The Palm Jebel Ali, The Palm Deira, The World, Waterfront, The Universe, Jumeirah Islands, Jumeirah Village, Jumeirah Park, Jumeirah Heights, The Gardens, Discovery Gardens, Ibn Battuta Mall, Al Furjan, International City, and Dragon Mart. Nakheel is a key entity within Dubai World. Dubai World is one of the world's largest holding companies and supervises a portfolio of businesses and projects for the Dubai government across five continents and more than 100 countries.

About JAA:

Junior Achievement Argentina (JAA), is a non for profit educational organization whose mission is to educate and inspire young people in the entrepreneurial spirit so that they will meet their goals with freedom and responsibility through supplying economic education curricula to students, through providing program materials, including teacher manuals, student workbooks. One of JAA core activities is to build the capacities of youth through using the knowledge and experience of the private sector. For more information on Junior Achievements: http://www.ja.org/

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Ninja Gaiden II is Back with a Vengeance on Xbox 360 this June

Microsoft announced the release date of the highly anticipated Ninja Gaiden II, designed by revolutionary game designer Tomonobu Itagaki of Team Ninja. Exclusive to Xbox 360™, Ninja Gaiden II will be available in the Middle East from 5th June for an estimated retail price of AED 249.

Ryu Hayabusa returns in this blockbuster action-packed sequel to ‘Ninja Gaiden’, on a mission to avenge his clan and prevent the destruction of the human race. Universal themes of vengeance and honour are played out from Tokyo to New York and to the netherworld as a series of dramatic events create a truly compelling story.

Players must become the ninja, utilising a revolutionary combat system that demands skill and mastery of a massive arsenal of weapons. “Ninja Gaiden II” features unique acrobatic combat, tooled with brutal new primary weapons and enhanced version of old favourites, and Obliteration Techniques allow players to finish off opponents with devastating speed and style, representing a true evolution of the highly popular franchise.

The franchise’s distinctive gameplay is accentuated by a new auto-healing system featuring semi-permanent damage restored at save points. In addition to this, extensive story mode and multiple levels of difficulty make for an experience that is easy to play, but hard to master – accessible to novices and the most fanatic of gamers alike.

For more information, please visit the Ninja Gaiden II official website at www.xbox.com/ng2.

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Lootah and Chen discuss bilateral relations between UAE and Singapore

His Excellency Tarek Lootah, Director-General – Ministry of State for Federal National Council Affairs (MSFNCA), received HE Low Pit Chen, Charge d'Affaires of Singapore to the UAE at MSFNCA office in Dubai. During the meeting, they discussed the bilateral relations and means to expand cooperation in vital areas. In this context, they both agreed to build on the progress generated from the reciprocal visits of Senior Minister and former Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong to the UAE and Minister of State for FNC Affairs Dr. Anwar Gargash to Singapore last year.

HE Lootah also elaborated on the FNC first historic elections that took place in the UAE in December 2006. HE described how this precedent represents the first milestone of the plan announced by President HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan during his address on the 34th anniversary of the establishment of the Union. He added that the plan aims at gradually improving the scope of political participation in the country. This is being brought about through awareness programs and greater coordination between the government and the FNC in reviewing draft legislations.

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Dubai American Academy hosts BOTBALL competition

Students from five local high schools will put their robots to the test in the BOTBALL competition to be on Saturday, April 26 at the GEMS Dubai American Academy. Participating schools include, Dubai American Academy, Al Mawakeb School-Al Barsha, Al Mawakeb School-Al Garhoud, International School of Arts & Sciences, and the American Community School of Abu Dhabi.

The top two teams from the UAE will go on to compete in the Regional BOTBALL Championship on May 24 at the Diplomatic Club in Doha. These teams will square off against the top two teams from the BOTBALL competitions in Qatar, Kuwait and Egypt

“BOTBALL is an initiative that gives students a chance to use creativity in technology as they design, build and operate robots to solve real world problems; it also puts their analytical skills into use, “said Dan Young, Superintendent, Dubai American Academy.

The winning team of the May 24 final will receive a trip to Norman, Oklahoma, USA to attend the 2008 Global Conference on Educational Robotics and meet middle school and high school students, educators, robotics enthusiasts, and professionals from across the world.

About BOTBALL

BOTBALL Robotics Program is a hands-on learning experience in robotics designed to engage young students in learning the practical applications of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The BOTBALL Program was developed in 1993 in the U.S. by the KISS Institute for Practical Robotics (KIPR). The goal of the KISS Institute program is to get high school and middle school students interested and excited about the fields of science, information and engineering as they design, construct and program an autonomous robot. The BOTBALL program gives teenagers an activity where they learn from the program on the Internet and develop engineering and programming skills through hands-on experience with robots. It also builds important community ties between schools, educators and local high technical organizations. For more information about BOTBALL, please visit: http://www.botball.org/

About GEMS

GEMS manages a growing network of 75 high quality international schools around the world. GEMS network of schools provide a unique brand of holistic education to 75,000 students from over 120 countries, employing over 6,000 education professionals, specialists and staff from over 50 nationalities. Supported by a network of eminent, international advisors in the field of education, GEMS global network of multi-skilled specialists and in-house experts provide invaluable support and guidance in all areas related to schools, delivering world class standards of education. ‘GEMS Education’ offers total school management solutions. From project inception and planning to ongoing operations of schools, GEMS offers a total solutions approach to the management of new school projects and existing schools. Information on the company and its portfolio can be found at http://www.gemseducation.com/.

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Dubai Knowledge Village Promotes Dubai as HR Hub at HRD 2008 Conference and Exhibition in London

Dubai Knowledge Village, a member of TECOM Investments, today announced it successfully promoted Dubai as a unique hub for human resources management (HRM) and training at the HRD 2008 Conference and Exhibition, Europe's largest learning and development event.

The event, held from 15-17 April in Excel, London, drew the participation of over 5,000 attendees from 70 different countries. In its debut presence, Dubai Knowledge Village spotlighted Dubai’s concerted efforts to develop its human resource pool to more than 200 training and HRM companies from Europe and across the globe.

Dr. Ayoub Kazim, Executive Director, Dubai Knowledge Village and Dubai International Academic City, said: “Our presence in the HRD 2008 Conference and Exhibition provided a timely opportunity to create a link for the HRM industry in the Middle East and Asia (MEA) with their European counterparts. This is specifically crucial when industries worldwide are facing competitive challenges to recruit and retain competent professionals. Showcasing our entity’s value added services at the event, we also laid the ground for strategic partnerships with major global players to benefit business professionals in the region.”

Ibrahim Moosa Jamel, Director of Business Development at DKV said: “HRD 2008 is a key platform that highlights DKV as a centre for learning and excellence. We currently have over 400 HRM partners specialised in HR training and development, assessment and testing, as well as management training, e-learning, linguistic institutes, executive development and HR consultancy services. The insights gained at the international event will help us transfer global best practices and know-how to Dubai that will further contribute to developing the emirate and the UAE as a knowledge based economy in the region.”

Dubai Knowledge Village recently announced an annual growth of 15 per cent in the number of human resources training and development (HRT&D), and HR consultancy companies based at the hub. It has successfully attracted prominent names such as Morgan International, IRCA Middle East, Academic Solutions, and RICS International Limited.

The cluster recently launched ‘DKV Experts Channel’, a quarterly bulletin inviting contributions from business partners to highlight industry best practices, and ‘DKV Events’, a platform for enhancing the professional development of all segments of the public for no fee.

DKV SME Builder is a quarterly workshop that provides cutting-edge solutions to crucial issues faced by small and medium enterprises (SME). Leading industry experts and specialists participate in the initiative that is part of the education cluster’s efforts to drive Dubai's knowledge-based growth.

The HRD 2008 conference offered delegates an opportunity to meet over 250 leading learning and development (L&D) suppliers, and acquire updates on the latest L&D technologies. It included over 60 free learning sessions, focusing on practical real life examples, and involving hands-on tasks, group discussions and brainstorming sessions, besides one-to-one meetings with expert facilitators.

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Dubai International Academic City to Host Annual Career Fair 2008

Dubai: Dubai International Academic City (DIAC), the region's centre for international higher education and a member of TECOM Investments, today announced it will host its annual Career Fair on 27 April, showcasing a range of employment options available in the UAE for all resident university students and graduates.

The DIAC Career Fair 2008, which is open to the general public, is being organised by the Department of Student Services and Programs (DSSP), and will be held at Dubai Knowledge Village, Block 1, Conference Centre, from 10:00am – 05:00pm.

Over 25 UAE companies from diverse sectors including finance, human resources, real estate, hospitality and engineering have registered for participation, demonstrating a keen intent to bridge the employment gap across various sectors.

Dr. Ayoub Kazim, Executive Director, Dubai Knowledge Village and Dubai International Academic City, said: “Through hosting the job fair, we aim to offer a platform for students and fresh graduates from UAE universities to interact with leading recruiters and gain insights into the diverse market needs. The Career Fair will guide our students to prudently weigh the alternatives before opting for a decisive career path.”

“We are grateful to the participating companies for their commitment in supporting our objective to serve the community.”

Lisa Franklin-Browne, DIAC Head of Student Services and Programmes, said: “The Career Fair is a signature event for the DIAC community. In addition to individuals seeking immediate employment avenues, it will also help students acquire invaluable interview skills and obtain first hand information on the scope of work for specific job profiles. The event will include on-the-spot interviews for full-time positions.”Manpower, the official recruitment partners of the event, will conduct industry related workshops throughout the day.

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UK Artist Stephen Wiltshire’s Giant Canvas on Display at DIFC

Dubai, April 22 2008: Visitors to the Dubai International Financial Centre will be able to marvel at the panoramic Dubai canvas by world renowned UK artist Stephen Wiltshire; a gifted painter with severe autism who managed to take a mental snapshot of the city after a mere 30 minute helicopter ride.

As part of Dubai’s support for autism awareness, His Highness Sheikh Majid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of The Dubai Culture and Arts Authority has met with Wiltshire and signed the Dubai canvas.

Work on Wiltshire’s latest piece, on display at the DIFC throughout the month of April began on Tuesday when he took a 30-minute helicopter ride from Festival City to Jumeirah Beach Hotel, past Palm Jumeirah and back along Sheikh Zayed Road. He proceeded to begin with his pencil drawing on Wednesday at 11am in DIFC.

His Excellency Dr. Omar Bin Sulaiman, Managing Director of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, and Governor of the DIFC stated: “April 2 was World Autism Day, but here in Dubai, we are dedicating the entire month of April to spread awareness about what is potentially the most threatening mental condition for children these days. Wiltshire is a testament to the fact that sometimes we can make miracles out of mishaps. His eye for detail and incredible retention powers are on display at the DIFC for all to see. The canvas is also a reminder of the power and prowess of a determined man.”

Dubai joins the list of major cities that Wiltshire has captured on his giant canvases; among other international destinations, he has already recreated panoramas of Tokyo, London and Rome.

Diagnosed with Autism at the mere age of three, Wiltshire was unable to speak until he was seven. His talent on canvas stemmed after a tragic accident that took away his father; and he found that that only a pencil and paper would calm his tantrums.

Wiltshire, who will be 34 later this month, has been awarded an MBE for his services to art. He is known as a “savant”, a man trapped in his own private world but with an exceptional talent, said to be one of only 100 diagnosed throughout the world.

His completed sketch of Dubai will be auctioned off to raise money for the Dubai Autism Centre’s new state-of-the-art centre in Garhoud. The money will enable the centre to offer more services to autistic children and their parents, gradually increasing the current enrolment from 42 to 140 youngsters.

Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that usually presents itself in the first three years of life. It can come in a variety of forms and affects the areas of developmental, social and communication skills.

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Global Village Delights Children of Dubai Center for Special Needs with Mickey Mouse Visit

Dubai: 21 April 2008 - Global Village, a member of Tatweer, enthralled children of the Dubai Center for Special Needs with an exclusive presentation of master magician Mickey Mouse, ahead of the highly acclaimed Disney Live! presents Mickey Magic Show’s debut in Dubai.

The initiative that came as part of Global Village’s corporate social responsibility also gave away complimentary tickets to the children for the musical that is set to raise its curtains on 15 May for 33 performances through a 12-day run at the Dubai Airport Expo.

Priced upwards from AED65, tickets for Disney Live! presents Mickey Magic Show have gone on sale and will be available until the last day of the show (26 May) at http://www.boxofficeme.com/ or at Box Office Phone (04.367.6699), as well as in all Spinneys, Hallmark and Cellucom outlets in Dubai.

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Dubai First Hosts “Little Steps for Safety” Children’s Carnival

Dubai: 20 April, 2008 – Dubai First, the consumer finance company of Dubai Group, a member of Dubai Holding, has launched the ‘Little Steps for Safety’ campaign to promote road safety for children in the UAE through a children’s carnival at Zabeel Park. The carnival featured edutainment for children, including safety drills, road safety games and quizzes, as well as face painting and bouncing castles.